A policeman was left fearing that he might have caught serious infections after a troublemaker's blood ended up trickling into his mouth during a violent struggle.

The officer could not immediately wash the man's blood out of his mouth because the trouble was continuing, a court heard.

Oliver Vatcher, 19, of Lawson Avenue, Grimsby, admitted assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty on September 19.

Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, told Grimsby magistrates that police were alerted about Vatcher causing problems at a house.

He was in the porch and an officer saw blood on his hands. Glass in the door had been smashed.

The officer asked to look at his hands but he refused and swore at him.

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The policeman took hold of Vatcher's arm and managed to manoeuvre him out of the porch.

He ran out of the garden but was chased and caught before being wrestled to the ground.

Vatcher resisted and lashed out with his arms and legs, hitting the officer with his foot.

He told the policeman: "You aren't arresting me. You aren't putting those handcuffs on me."

Vatcher had blood on his hand and some of this ended up in the constable's mouth during the struggle.

Vatcher claimed that he wiped his hand and blood went into the policeman's mouth.

The officer was not able to wash it out of his mouth immediately because of the ongoing confrontation and was worried that he might have caught an infection.

Steven Baggott, mitigating, said there was a dispute at the family home and police were called. Things got out of hand and, during a struggle, Vatcher made contact with the officer.

"He did not try to strike him in an aggressive manner," said Mr Baggott. "It was reckless."

Vatcher, a factory worker, was fined £200 and was ordered to pay £50 compensation and £85 costs.